Wagon or other vehicle.



No. 686,537. I Patented flaw. l2, [90L .l. B. RHODES.

' WAGON OR OTHER ,VEHIGLE.

(Application filed Nov. 12, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheat I.

(No Model.)

I f wzwt' 62 3. i ae sfif Patented Nov. I2; 19m.

J. B. RHODES.

WAGON OR OTHER VEHICLE.

- Application filed Nov. 12, 1900 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES 'ATENT rrr cn.

JAY B. RHODES, OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK O.

. AUSTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WAGON OR OTHER VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,537, dated November 12, 1901.

' Application filed November 12, 1900. Serial No. 36,261. (No model.)

To all whon i. it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, JAY B. RHODEs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Harvey, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and usefullmprovement in Wagons or other Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a connection between the body or body-frame of a wagon or other vehicle anda horizontally-swinging and longitudinally-tilting axle.

. In a construction characterized by my invention the. weight of the forward portion of the body or body-frame is substantially or in partsustained by antifriction wheels or rolls, which are in turn supported upon thefront axle. The body or body-frame bearing,which rests upon these antifriction-rolls, is adapted to provide a circular track which is traversed by the antifriction-rolls when the front axle is swung horizontally about a vertical middle axis, in which way friction is reduced and turning rendered comparatively easy. In order to maintain the proper assemblage of these parts and at the same time permit all: necessary swinging action on the part of the front axle, a swivel coupling device is interposed as a bearing connection between the body or body-frame and the axle. The antifrictionrolls are arranged to prevent the axle from rocking or rolling about its axis, and to such end said rolls are respectively positioned forward and rearward of the axle. These anti- -friction-rolls,however, permit an end or longitudinal tilt of the front axle in either direction and at the same time maintain their bearing contact with the circular track regardless of the extent to which the axle may be swung about its middle point, and to such end the rolls are supported to rotate about an axis which is at all times transverse or at right angles to the axle. The swivel coupling device is also hinge-connected withthe front axle, so as to relatively yield in conformity with such tilt on the part of the front axle as may occur by reason of one of the front wheels running into a depression or running over a rise.

As a matter of detail and further improvement the swivel coupling device comprises a couple of members respectively connected with the body-frame and the front axle and.

having a rotary connection the onewith the other, the'lower of such coupling members being hinge-connected with the front axle and held incouple with the upper coupling member by a king-bolt, which-serves as a swivel pin or bolt about which the lower hinged coupling member can turn'when the front axle is swung horizontally.

My invention thus set forth can be em ployed in a Wagon or other vehicle in which the usual front bolster is absent, or it may be and preferably is employed in a wagon or other vehicle having either a single bolster or an upper and a lower bolster, in which lastmentioned case the lower bolster may be regarded as. a part of the front axle. Ordinarily, however, I prefer employing a front bolster for well-known reasons, and in such case the circular track or hearing can be secured to the bolster after the manner of an upper circle of a fifth-wheel. As it'is not necessary my invention to rotate independently of the bolster, it can be simply driven into a vertical holein the bolster and, if desired, keyed to the latter, in which way wear of the .Wall of the bolt-hole in the bolster will be avoided.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in end elevation the. portion of a wagon or other vehicle comprising the wheeled front axle and a bolster supported thereon and connected therewith in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a section through Fig. 1 on linem m. Fig. 3 is a section through Fig. l on line w x on a larger scale, the upper portion of the bolster being broken away. Fig. 4 is a section on line y y in Fig. 3 with portions of the axle broken away. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan on line z z in Fig. 4. I

In said drawings the body or body-frame of the wagon or other vehicle is not shown, but is understood to 'be present and to be connected with or secured upon the front bolster A in any known or suitable way. The bolster can be of any ordinary or suitable con struction, the selected form or construction being a bolster composed of parallel bars a, understood to be suitably connected together and secured to or connected with the body or for the king-bolt employed in connection with body-frame in any ordinary or approved mans ner. The axle B may be a single bar or a composite structure, as preferred, and, if desired, it may be provided with a lower bolster, the results so far as my invention is concerned being practically the same in either case. The ends or spindle portions of the axle are supported by wheels 0, as usual, and the axle is capable of horizontal swing and end or longitudinal tilt.

The axle is steadied and prevented from rolling by antifriction -rolls D, supported upon the axle and having a rolling bearing contact with a circular track or hearing E, arranged over the antifriction-rolls and bolted .or otherwise suitably secured to the bolster A. These antifriction-rolls are respectively arranged forward and rearward. of the axle and traverse the circular bearing Eon the bolster when the axle is swung horizontally either way about its middle point. Regardless,-therefore,of the extent to which the axle may be swung the antifriction-rolls thus engaging the circular track will steady the axle and prevent it from rocking or rolling about its longitudinal axle. These antifric'tionrolls also partially or substantially sustain the weight of the forward portion of the body or body-frame, and hence reduce friction when the axle is swung horizontally and permit it to be thus moved with comparative ease. The antifriotion rolls also serve as rounded bearing contacts or fulcra between the axle and the upper bearing-plate or circular track E and permit the axle to readily tiltabout a horizontal axis at right angles to its length when, for example, one of the front wheels runs into a depression or runs over a rise along the road. When the axle is thus tilted, the antifriotion-rolls maintain their hearing contact with the-circular bearing on the bolster, such contact being maintained whether the axle is at right angles or oblique to the longitudinal line of the body or bodyfranie of the wagon or other vehicle.

In order to maintain the proper relative connection or assemblage of parts and to permit the axle to both swing and tilt independent of the body or body-frame, a swivel'coupling is interposed as or in a bearing connection between the same and the axle and hingeconnected with the latter. Where a bolster is employed as practically a part of the body frame and as a means for permitting the use of front wheels relatively smaller than the rear wheels of the wagon or other vehicle, one member of the swivel-coupling is rigid with the bolster, while the other member of such coupling is hinge-connected with the axle. The swivel-coupling illustrated comprises an upper member F, which is secured to the bolster, and a lower member G, which is hinged upon the axle and adapted to have a rotary or swivel connection with the upper coupling member. The two coupling members are also tied or connected together by a king-bblt H,

A which further serves as a swivel-pin adapted to permit the lower coupling member to rotate said rolls will traverse about an axishiassing longitudinally through the king-bolt.

As a matter of further improvement'the' lower coupling member G is hinge-connected with the axle by a spindle-rod 1, arranged to extend through bearings on the axle and provided at each end portion with one of the antifriction-rolls D. With this'arrangement the spindle-rod I, which may be sectional or in one piece, is positioned at right angles to the length of the axle, with bearings suitable to support the rod and permit the rolls 1) to occupy the relative positions hereinbefore described. When, therefore, the axle is swung about its middle point or a vertical axis passing through its middle, the antifriction-rolls thus journaled on the rod-spindle will be bodilycarried around with the axle, and during such bodily movement the upper circular traclr and rotate about an axis passing centrally and longitudinally through the rodspindle, this axis being at all times at right angles to the length of the axle. In this way the rolls will-at all times contact with the cirv cular track or hearing and will be maintained in position relatively to the axle to prevent axial rock of the latter. At the same time, however, the axle, regardless of the extent to which it may be swung around either way, will be free to tilt longitudinally about an axis common to the antifrietion-rolls and the hinge connection between the centrally-arranged swivel-coupling and the axle, such axis, for example, being the longitudinal axis of the rod-spindle, which affords journals for the rolls and a hinge-pintle for a hinge-joint between the axle and the centrally-arranged swivel-coupling.

With reference to matters of detail illustrated in the drawings and capable of modification or variation in form according to need or desire so far as the general principles of my invention are concerned, but having various advantages and involving simplicity, compactness, strength, and desirable adaptation for the purposes for which they are in; tended and constituting matters of further improvement, the lower coupling member G is provided with a pair of downwardly-projecting cheeks g, forming a clevis-shaped device which straddles a bearing K on the axle. This bearing K supports the middle portion of the spindle rod I, which latter passes through and serves to hinge the checks 9 of the lower coupling member to such bearing.

In this way the rod I, which serves as a spindle or provides spindle portions or journalsfor the two antifriction-rolls, also serves as a pivot or pint-1e for a hinge connection between the swivel-coupling and the axle. A frame or plate K is bolted to the axle, as at k k,

and is preferably provided with the aforesaid bearing K for the middle of the spindle-rod I and also provided witn bearings M M for the, the spindle-rod. The plate end portions of K is also provided with slots or openings 10' which latter is provided extending parallel with the axle and providing working space for the lower end portions of the cheek-pieces g of the lower coupling member. The upper portion of the lower coupling member is fitted to the upper coupling member, so as to turn independently of this arrangement the head h of the king-bolt can be made rounded or conical and countersunk in the upper portion of the lower coupling member G, which latter can turn about the king-bolt or the axis thereof. A particular advantage of this arrangement is that the king-bolt can be rigid with the bolster-as, for example, it can be driven into a vertical hole through the bolster-and also keyed to the latter in any desired way. The kin g-bolt, therefore, need notturn, and hence it can have a firm steady connection with the bolster and will not wear its bearing therein. Where the axle comprises a set of bars or seetions,-the upper coupling member can be provided with cheeks f, fitted to the sides of the middle section or bar of the bolster, and the kingbolt can also be driven into a hole formed through such middle bar or section. The coupling member F can, however, be modified with reference to such other form of bolster as may be employed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, if desired, the antifriction-rolls, which are supported upon the axle, may practically sustain the weight of the superimposed load or that such weight-can be divided or distributed between the-rolls and the hinge connection be- 7 tween the lower coupling member and the axle; also, that while a lower bolster could be secured upon the axle my invention permits the use of such bolster to be dispensed with, since, as illustrated, the casting or bearing-plate K, which is secured to the axle, can be provided with bearings M for end portions of the rod I, which afiord journals for the antifriction-rolls, and with a centrally-arranged and upwardly-extending bearing K, afiording a support for the middle portion of said rod, which provides a pintle for the hinge connection between the axle and the lower member G of a two-part swivel-coupling having its upper part or member F rigid with the superimposed bolster or vehicle body or bodyframe, as the case may be. The construction of swivel-coupling illustrated also permits me to avoid hinging the king-bolt to the pintle,

since if thus hinged to thepintle it would be necessary to arrange the king-bolt to turn axially in a vertical hole through the bolster when the axle is swung horizontally. x. The bearing-plate or casting K can. be

clamped to or bolted upon the axle in any suitable way, a simple and elfective arrangement being to' fasten it down upon the axle by bolts 7c and by a bent brace-bar bolted to the under side of the axle and having its upwardly-extending arms, which are arranged in a vertical plane transverse to the axle, bolted to the under side of the front and rear portions of the plate or casting K at points I under the bearings M.

What I claim as my invention is-- 1. In a connection between the body or body-frame of a wagon or other vehicle, and a horizontally-swinging and longitudinallytiltingaxle therefor; a circular bearing-track; antifriction-rolls supported upon and maintained respectively forward and rearward of the axle and engaging the circular bearingtrack; and a centrally arranged hinged, swivel-coupling bearing operating in conformity with the swing of the axle and permitting the axle to tilt longitudinally.

2. In a connection between the body or body-frame of a wagon or other vehicle, and

a horizontally-swinging and longitudinally-' tilting axle; a circular bearing-track antifriction-rolls supported upon and maintained respectively forward and rearward of the axle and engaging the circular bearing-track; a centrallyarranged hinged, swivel coupling bearing operating in conformity with the swing of the axle and permitting the axle to tilt longitudinally; and a king-bolt with which the hinged swivel-coupling has a swivel connection.

3. In a connection between the body or 1 tilting axle; antifriction-rolls supported by the axle and respectively arranged andmaintained forward and rearward of the same; a circular-track bearing upon the antifrictionrolls and traversed by the latter when the axle is swung either way; a centrally-arranged swivel-coupling bearinghaving a hinge connection with the axle and permitting the tilt and swing thereof; and a king-bolt with whichthe lower member of the hinged swivel-coupling is connected by a swivel-joint.

5. In a connection between the body or body-frameof a wagon or other vehicle and a horizontally-swinging and longitudinallytiltingaxle; -a spindle-redfiaupported upon the axle and arranged transversely thereto;

antifriction-rolls on the ends of the spindlerod; a circular-track bearing upon the antifriction rolls; and a centrally arranged swivel-couplin g hingeconnected with the axle by the spindle-rod which carries the antifriction-rolls.

6. In a connection between the body or body-frame of a wagon or other vehicle'and a horizontally-swinging and longitudinallytilting axle; a bolster; a circular bearingtrack secured to the bolster; antifriction-rolls supported upon the axle and arranged to contact with and traverse the circular bearingtrack; and a centrally-arranged swivel-coupling having an upper member secured to the bolster and a lower member hinge-connected with the axle.

7. In a connection between the body of body-frame of a wagon or other vehicle and a horizontally-swinging and longitudinallytilting axle; a bolster provided with a circular bearing-track; antifriction-rolls supported on the axle and arranged to contact with and traverse the circular bearing-track; a

{centrally-arranged swivel-coupling having an upper member on the bolster and a lower member hinge-connected with the axle; and a king-bolt rigid with the bolster and engaging the lower member of the swivel-coupling which hasa swivel connection with the kingbolt.

8. In a connection between the body or body-frame of a wagon or other vehicle and a horizontally-swinging and longitudinallytilting axle; a bearing-plate or casting rigidly secured to the axle and having forward and rearward extending portions provided with bearings for a rod and having a central bearing also adapted for said rod; antifrictionrolls mounted on a rod which is in turn supported by the bearings on said plate or casting; a circular bearing-traek'restin upon the antifriction-rolls; and a swivel-coupling device having a lower part or member hinged to the central bearing on the plate or casting.

JAY B. RHODES.

Witnesses:

CHARLES G. PAGE, ARTHUR G. OLSEN. 

